One more meeting between agitating pro-quota Patidar leaders and the state government ended without any concrete conclusion on Tuesday.
The meeting was held in the afternoon at Swarnim Sankul -1 building which houses offices of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. From the State Government side Deputy CM Nitin Patel and two other senior Ministers belonging to Patidar community attended the meeting. On the other hand at least a dozen Patidar leaders including that of Hardik Patel remained present in it.
Nearly 100 representatives of Hardik Patel led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and other five-six social as well as religious outfits of the community had detailed discussion with the State Government over the demand of community to provide reservation to Patidar youth in Government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category. The Patidar community, especially PAAS leaders are agitating for the purpose for over the past couple of years.
The idea to convene a meeting was to reach an agreement on the issue of reservation before the ensuing assembly polls in Gujarat. Post meeting Hardik and other pro-quota leader lalji Patel stated that the State Government was not read to give reservations. They went on to say that the meeting was convened with an intention to divide the community. During the meeting four important issues were raised by the Patidar leaders including withdrawal of all the cases against the agitating Patidar youngsters, Government jobs and compensation to the next of kin of deceased in violence during the stir and action against policemen responsible for atrocities against Patels during the stir.
Responding to the demands of Patidar leaders, the State Government immediately promised to initiate process for the withdrawal of cases and to take punitive action against the policemen involved in the highhandedness a commission would be set up headed by a retired high court judge.
Meanwhile, the state government claimed that apart from a commission to probe against policemen, economic assistance would be provided to the Patidar community to become self-reliant. A press communiqué issued by the state government said that the meeting was held in cordial manner. ‘‘Some elements in the community are deliberately trying to make the issue political in view of elections. But members of Patidar community know very well about the sincerity of the state government to resolve the issue,’’ it said.